SONG OF THE DAY

“Rejoicing” by Ornette Coleman (Tomorrow Is The Question!, Contemporary Records, 1959). Written by Ornette Coleman.

WHERE I HEARD IT

ABC’s “Detroit 1-8-7” Episode 111: “Ice Man; Malibu”, first aired: January 4, 2011

INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)

– The album is Coleman’s last album for the label before beginning his successful multi-album series for Atlantic Records in 1959.

– As well as regular sideman Don Cherry on trumpet, the album features bassists Percy Heath and Red Mitchell, and drummer Shelly Manne.

– Unlike Coleman’s debut Something Else!!!!, on which he was contractually obliged to feature a pianist, there is no piano on the album.

– The album generally received better press than did Something Else!!!!. Ekkehard Jost, in his book Free Jazz, noted that “as early as the 1958/59 recordings for Contemporary, the most pronounced features of Coleman’s saxophone playing were set. His bent for improvisations that were largely unrestrained harmonically is evident, even in pieces whose outward make-up is anything but revolutionary.” Others have hailed the removal of the piano as a positive move: for Mike Andrews, “a marked conceptual improvement can be immediately recognized” as the lack of harmonic instrument allowed greater freedom for the soloists.